Nirmala has given K'taka a 'Chombu': CM Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Terming the Union Budget 2024-25 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as "disappointing", Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the State has been totally neglected.

"As Nirmala Sitharaman is a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, we had expected her to do justice to the state and hoped that she would protect the interest of the state, but she has disappointed and done injustice to the people of Karnataka," he said.

"In this budget Nirmala Sitharaman has given Karnataka 'Chombu' (a small, round water container). Karnataka has got nothing. Andhra Pradesh and Bihar got special grants, no other states have got grants. Because for Narendra Modi to continue as Prime Minister, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar's support is required," Siddaramaiah said.

"The budget is totally disappointing and anti-people. Injustice has been done specially to SC/STs, farmers. In order to keep Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar (happy) special grants have been given to Andhra Pradesh and Bihar....There are 28 states and eight Union Territories, ours is a federal state, but Karnataka has totally been neglected," he said.